Vehicle Seat with a Pivotably Connected Linking Member

Abstract

This invention relates in general to a vehicle seat having a mounting frame assembly connected to the vehicle floor, a seat bottom frame mounted for movement relative to the mounting frame assembly, and a link member connecting the mounting frame assembly and the seat bottom frame. The link member has a first connection to the seat bottom frame at one end of the link member and a second connection to the mounting frame assembly at another end of the link member, and one of the connections allows pivotal movement. The pivotal connection includes a protruding member extending through and retained in an aperture. The protruding member is a part of the mounting frame assembly, the seat bottom frame or the link member.

1 . A vehicle seat having a mounting frame assembly connected to the vehicle floor, a seat bottom frame mounted for movement relative to the mounting frame assembly, and a link member connecting the mounting frame assembly and the seat bottom frame, the link member having a first connection to the seat bottom frame at one end of the link member and a second connection to the mounting frame assembly at another end of the link member, wherein one of the first connection and the second connection allows pivotal movement and includes a protruding member extending through an aperture, and wherein the protruding member is retained within the aperture;
 characterized in that the protruding member is a part of one of the mounting frame assembly, the seat bottom frame and the link member.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle seat of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding member is tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle seat of  claim 2 , wherein the protruding member is part of the link member. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle seat of  claim 3 , wherein the protruding member is integral with the link member. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle seat of  claim 4 , wherein the aperture is defined by the mounting frame assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle seat of  claim 5 , wherein the protruding member is rolled over the mounting frame assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle seat of  claim 6 , wherein a bushing is disposed between the protruding member and the mounting frame assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle seat of  claim 4 , wherein the protruding member is retained within the aperture by a pin. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle seat of  claim 3 , wherein the protruding member is welded to the link member. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle seat of  claim 2 , wherein the protruding member is part of the mounting frame assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle seat of  claim 2 , wherein the protruding member is part of the seat bottom frame. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle seat of  claim 2 , wherein a bushing is disposed within the aperture adjacent the protruding member. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle seat of  claim 1 , wherein the other of the first connection and the second connection allows pivotal movement. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle seat of  claim 1 , wherein the other of the first connection and the second connection is fixedly attached.